LABELLING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract: This invention relates to a labelling apparatus and method which are each applicable to labelling objects (3) such as bottles or containers. The apparatus includes a turret (1) and a static electricity generator (7) which generates static electricity to facilitate the placing of labels (6) around the respective object (3). The method includes the use of static electricity during a labelling process to position a label around an object for labelling and applying an adhesive to the label to fix the label around the object.

Description: "Labelling apparatus and method" This invention is in the field of labelling apparatus, as may commonly be used for applying labels to food or drink containers. The invention finds a particular application in connection with roll-fed labelling apparatus. Roll-fed labelling apparatus generally includes a large rotatable turret adapted to hold a plurality of containers to which labels are applied. The containers are mounted in chucks attached to the turret and are adapted to rotate about a respective axis parallel to the turret axis about which the turret itself rotates. A web of labels is fed to the containers held in the rotating turret via a series of pulleys and drums which ensure that the labels are served to the containers in an appropriate manner. Desirably, the web is cut at incremental lengths corresponding to the length of each label and thereafter offered to a vacuum drum which, in turn, offers the labels to their respective containers. In the past, it has been known to attach the labels to the containers by various methods. Such methods include adhesives or glues, hot melt techniques, water adhesion and the like. However, it is a disadvantage of these known methods of attaching the labels to their respective containers in that in order to process them for recycling, it is necessary to remove the label from the container and, when adhesives or hot melts have been used, the container is marked or damaged. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a means of attaching labels to containers, particularly in connection with roll-fed labelling apparatus, wherein the container or bottle is not potentially marked or damaged by the attachment method. The invention seeks to accomplish this object by causing the label to form a sleeve which snugly circumnavigates the containers during the labelling process; having the leading and trailing portions of the label joined to each other, as opposed to the container. The resulting snug fit of the label around the container is produced by a modification of the label transfer step in the labelling process in which the label is transferred to the container. According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a labelling apparatus comprising a turret holding a plurality of objects for labelling and having mounting means for said objects, a label retaining means and transfer means for transferring a label to the respective object for labelling, characterised by a generator being provided producing an electric charge to facilitate the transfer of the label from the label retaining means to the respective object for labelling. Preferably, the electric charge is static electricity generated by a static electricity generator. Preferably, the generator is in conductive communication with conductive brushes. Preferably, the conductive brushes apply the static electric charge to a surface of the respective object for labelling. Alternatively, the static electric charge is applied to the label prior to the label being transferred to said respective object for labelling. Preferably, the mounting means are rotatable chucks adapted to mount the object in an insulated manner. Preferably, the turret is rotatable and positions the surface of the respective object for labelling in engaging relationship with the label retaining means. Preferably, the label retaining means is a rotatable vacuum drum having the label retained on a surface of the drum. According to the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of transferring a label onto an object for labelling and fixing said label around said object, characterised by generating static electricity to promote said transfer and providing a sealing means at a first portion of the label, said first portion being distally opposite a second portion, to seal said first portion to the second portion of the label. Preferably, the static electricity is applied to the object for labelling. Alternatively, the static electricity is applied to the label. In another embodiment, the static electricity is applied to the object for labelling and the label. Preferably, a means is provided to position the label around said object. Preferably, an adhesive is applied to the first portion of the label and said first portion engages the second portion in sealing relationship to fix said label around said object. In order to enable a better understanding of the invention, an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a turret housing a plurality of containers to which are offered labels from a vacuum drum and an electric charge from a static generator; and, Fig. 2 is a side view of a container housed in a pair of chucks. Referring firstly to Fig. 1, apparatus as may be found in a roll-fed labelling machine comprises a turret 1 which is rotatable about a fixed axis 2. The turret is adapted to support a plurality of containers 3 which, in the embodiment shown, are cylindrical plastic bottles. In use, the turret 1 rotates in a clockwise direction about its axis 2. The bottles or containers 3 are also rotatably mounted by chucks 9 (shown in Fig. 2) . The chucks 9 allow the containers 3 to spin in an anti-clockwise direction about the centre axis of each container. The apparatus in Fig. 1 also includes a vacuum drum 4 which is adapted to rotate about the axis 5 and comprises suction means for holding labels 6 thereto as it rotates. The vacuum drum is adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction about its axis 5 in use. The static generator 7 generates an electric charge which is conducted to the brushes 8 and thereafter applied to the containers 3 by contact with the brushes thereon. Desirably, the rotation of the turret 1 and further rotation of the containers 3 enable the full circumference of the containers 3 to be in receipt of the static electric charge applied by the brushes 8. This electric charge is applied to the containers just prior to their arrival to the location at which they are in receipt of the labels 6. As may be seen from Fig. 2, the containers are held in chucks 9 which are made from a material such as rubber or plastics comprising a low co-efficient of electrical conduction. This insulating quality traps the static electric charge on the bottles. In use, as a respective container reaches close proximity to a label offered to it by a vacuum drum 4, the static charge applied to the container 3 attracts the label 6. The label 6 is then encouraged to wrap around said container 3 by the combined rotation of the turret 1, container 3 and vacuum drum 4. The trailing portion of the label 6 is then secured or otherwise attached to the leading portion of the label using a spray-on adhesive or the like to form a sleeve surrounding the surface of the container. The effect of this is that the bottle or container 3 does not receive any glue, adhesive or hot melt directly on its surface. When it is desired to recycle the bottle and remove the label, it is merely necessary to tear the label or break the join between the leading and trailing portions of the label and either of these may be achieved by simple mechanical force. Clearly the bottle or container does not need to be damaged by the process. Other embodiments (not shown) include applying a static electric charge to the labels 6. In such event, the coating of the drum 4 might include insulating means to prevent the escape of any positive static charge applied to the labels 6. Alternatively, the charge may be applied to both label and container.

Claims: Claims 1. A labelling apparatus comprising a turret holding a plurality of objects for labelling and having mounting means for said objects, a label retaining means and transfer means for transferring a label to the respective object for labelling, characterised by a generator being provided producing an electric charge to facilitate the transfer of the label from the label retaining means to the respective object for labelling. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said electric charge is static electricity generated by a static electricity generator. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said generator is in conductive communication with conductive brushes. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the conductive brushes apply a static electric charge to a surface of the respective object for labelling. 5. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said static electric charge is applied to the label prior to the label being transferred to said respective object for labelling. 6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein said mounting means are rotatable chucks adapted to mount said objects for labelling in an insulated manner. 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein said turret is rotatable and positions a surface of the respective object for labelling in engaging relationship with the label retaining means. 8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein the label retaining means is a rotatable vacuum drum having the label retained on a surface of the drum. 9. A method of transferring a label onto an object for labelling and fixing said label around said object, characterised by generating static electricity to promote said transfer and providing sealing means at a first portion of the label, said first portion being distally opposite a second portion of the label. 10. A method according to Claim 9 wherein said static electricity is applied to said object for labelling. 11. A method according to Claim 9 wherein said static electricity is applied to said label. 12. A method according to Claim 9 wherein said static electricity is applied to the object for labelling and the label. 13. A method according to any of the Claims 9 to 12 wherein a means is provided to position the label around said object. 14. A method according to Claim 13 wherein an adhesive is applied to the first portion of the label and said first portion engages the second portion in sealing relationship to fix said label around said object.

Inventors: CARMICHAEL JAMES, CARMICHAEL, JAMES
Applicants: CARMICHAEL JAMES, KHS CARMICHAEL LTD, CARMICHAEL, JAMES, KHS CARMICHAEL LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65C3
IPC codes: B65C3, B65C9